Love thy neighbour? Not yet...

The Times of India has started a bold new campaign on this New Year... Love Pakistan. Some arguments and counter arguments are bound to come up there, but at the outset, I concede that I am on the side of naysayers.

I also dare say, this seems to be a gimmick but one with intent of doing something good.

It actually feels odd to see India, Pakistan and Love in the same sentence. And can anyone be blamed for this?

It is not just what we have been fed over the past 60 years of ‘hate propaganda' from the other side. Any well meaning individual who feels for the common man and especially for the armed forces will have this odd feeling.

Also, when all previous attempts of extending hands has met only cynicism and counterproductive results like terror attacks.

It makes common sense to be wary. The sadhu who keeps on tending the scorpion that bites back may not have to stop tending to the scorpion. But he definitely needs to take care of the sting before taking care of the scorpion.

After all these years of gore and attacks in my country having been repetitively propagated by Pakistan, I can still love the common people, cricketers, singers, etc on the other side of the border. But loving Pakistan... boss...

I know better than that. I love the likes of Karkare, Saluskar, Kamte, Nachiketa, Unnikrishnan, Suri and common Indians too much to love the hand that killed them all.

Lets all be bit more wary on this count....